Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman speaks with Donald Trump at the Royal Court in Riyadh, May 2025 (Brendan Smialowski/AFP)
EA-CEO Retort VideoCast: Saudi-Houthi Conflict Complicates Trump’s Failing War on Iran
UPDATES: US War on Iran, Day 207 — Saudi Arabia’s Conflict with Yemen’s Houthis Escalates
UPDATE 0510 GMT:
The Iran Government’s Statistical Center reports GDP shrank by 10.1% year-on-year between March 21 and June 20.
The oil and gas sector contracted by 26.4%. Excluding the sector, GDP dropped by only 4.6%.
Industry and mining fell 14.7%, services 4.8%, and manufacturing 2.5%. Agriculture grew 2.3%.
UPDATE 0501 GMT:
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham says London will provide defensive air support to Saudi Arabia to help counter attacks by Yemen’s Houthis.
Burnham said he agreed to a request for air-to-air refuelling of Saudi jets to defend energy infrastructure.
The Prime Minister said he will use his first meeting with Donald Trump, in New York on Tuesday, to urge de-escalation of the US War on Iran. He warned that “dark clouds of global instability” are directly affecting people’s lives all over the world.
ORIGINAL ENTRY: Donald Trump bailed out of a personal commitment to help Saudi Arabia with direct military action against Yemen’s Houthis, say US officials.
On Thursday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called Trump to implore him again to intervene.
Last week, before the Houthis completed their takeover of the Red Sea coast in a rapid advance against Saudi-backed Yemen Government forces, the Crown Prince twice asked Trump for assistance. Twice Trump refused.
Trump changed course on Thursday and told the Pentagon to prepare for airstrikes. He cut short a weekend stay at the Camp David retreat in Maryland, prompting expectation of a return to the US War on Iran.
But by midday Sunday, Trump U-turned again and decided against airstrikes for the time being. His reversal came as commanders approved target lists and troops loaded bombs onto warplanes.
Most of Trump’s inner circle was either deeply skeptical or opposed to the intervention.
Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi spoke to Trump on Sunday, requesting support for the UN-recognised government. Trump made no direct pledge of military support, sources said.
Ten days ago, after Mohammed bin Salman’s initial appeals, Trump told reporters that the Houthis “called us, and they don’t want to fight us”. He declared that the group was “allowing ships to pass” the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, entering and exiting the Red Sea, and said that the situation would “work out very well”.
Reports later established that Houthi representatives had met US Embassy personnel in Oman. The Houthis gave assurances that they would not intervene against ships unless they were connected to Saudi Arabia or the group’s blockade on Saudi ports. They also pledged that they would not attack US positions or personnel.
On Saturday, the Houthis struck near Riyadh International Airport, reportedly setting a fuel tank ablaze. A column of dark black smoke rose over the Saudi capital.
The UN said the Houthi advance in Yemen have displaced at least 125,000 people since the start of September.
